When he took the scroll,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb.
Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense,
which are the prayers of the holy ones.
They sang a new hymn:
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”
(Rev 5:1-10)
What a vision of the Lamb! And another hymn, but this time a NEW hymn. When I was in studies at Vanderbilt University, I helped out a parish community by taking the 7:00 am Mass every Sunday morning. There was a deacon to assist me but NO music. As the deacon told me, “This is the quiet Mass.” Well, I acquiesced to the NO music, but when we got to Easter I warned the deacon that we would be singing albeit a cappella. And sing we did. Folks who might want a QUIET heaven are bound to be disappointed. Not only will there be music and singing . . . there may be some NEW hymns to learn!
